A dog owner has been successfully prosecuted by Chelmsford City Council for failing to register her pet’s microchip details on a government-approved database. 

Charlotte Ward, of Kings Road, Chelmsford, was prosecuted at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on 1 June.

She did not attend court and the matter was proved in her absence, resulting in a £220 fine, plus costs of £125 and a victim surcharge of £30.

This is the first prosecution Chelmsford City Council has brought for failure to microchip a dog.

Ms Ward bought her puppy, a German Shepherd-Husky cross, from a breeder in Chelmsford.

Although the dog was microchipped and registered with the Petlog database before being sold, the transfer of keepership was never completed.

Petlog sent out forms and gave the new owners 28 days to update their details: however, Ms Ward did not return these forms and Petlog removed the details from their database.

When the dog went stray one evening, it was brought to the Council's out-of-hours dog service and scanned for a chip.

As the details were not registered, Ms Ward was only reunited with her pet when she called to report the loss.

Since the law requires dogs to be microchipped and registered, this resulted in prosecution.

Councillor Susan Sullivan, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, said, “Dog microchipping helps to reunite owners with lost or stolen dogs.

It prevents them from being left on the streets or in kennels because owners can’t be traced.

When you buy a dog, ask for proof that a chip has been fitted and make sure you update the database with your details as the new owner.”

By law, dogs in England must be microchipped by a trained professional before they are eight weeks old.

You can ask your vet to do this. Alternatively, the City Council microchips dogs free of charge at the Civic Centre in Duke Street, Chelmsford or, for a £10 fee, in your own home.

To book an appointment, contact the Dog Wardens atwww.chelmsford.gov.uk or call 01245 606606.

The dog’s details must then be registered on a government-approved database.

This must be updated if circumstances change: for example, if you move home or the dog has a new owner.

A list of approved databases can be found on the Government website at www.gov.uk/get-your-dog-microchipped.